New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-15
PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCES.

The successful party or leader eonsuits the
people the unsuccessful, as a sSlle, does not.
Leaders are apt 10 come TO grief who get the
habit OF following their own notions Or the
notions Of some 4" influential fraction Of the
voters instead of the win Of the majority.
In view Of these well-bnOwn facts, il is al
WAYS matter of deep interest to ascertain,
prior to Presidential nomination, whether
the majority Of the voters really prefer any
particular candidate, and evidence On that
point may with proiaiety be submitted and
weighed THE Toledo Blade has succeeded
in obtaining q $50 replies from Republicans.
in every State in the Union and every Terri
tory except Utah and Alaska, to the simple
inquiry, "Who il your first choice for tho
next Republican candidate for the Presidency? p
The information tins obtained is certainly of
value, though il is but part Of the evidence
which every candid and intelligent Republican
will strive TO obtain and to weigh.
A majority of the whole number voting
namely. 11,01O, named Mr.. Blaine As their
first choice, 10,3S0 being divided among
many other candidates This is strong evil
dence of the continued popularity of Mr..
Blaine for the question asked involves two
considerations, the personal preference Of tho
voter and his belief respecting the success Of
different candidates. No doubt some men OK
press their personal choice without seriously
considering whether tho candidate named
would prove the strongest or not. But by far
the larger number OF men who have interest
enough to answer such an inquiry undoubted.
ly reply in the light Of their best Judgment
respecting candidates prospect OF success,
recognizing The fact that it would be Of no
avail 10 pnt up the best man in the country
only to have him defeated. The clear major
fly Of Republicans answering, il may therefore
be inferred, not only desire Mr.. Blaines cleo
lion. but believe that he would be elected
If nominated.
II is also point of importance that the
other votes are widely scattered. Senator
Sherman, as is natural in view OF his long and
distinguished services. and his proved ability
and worth, is preferred by relatively large
number, 6,6S4 voters, but 2,237 preferred
Mr.. Lincoln or judged him the safer candidate.
3S4 voted for Mr.. Allison, and 1.O25 voted for
other candidates, of whom none had more
than about 100 votes, and nearly all less than
that number Another feature OF interest Is
that Mr.. Blaine appears to be stronger, so far
as this indication goes. than other prominent
candidates in their own States He has j ia
votes In Ohio, against 1.o42 for Senator Sher.
man; All IN Iowa, against 1873 for Senator
Alison 974 in Illinois, against 336 for Mr..
Lincoln, Senator Sherman also having In that
State 972 votes; In Vermont Mr. Blaine has
81, Senator Sherman 26, and Senator Edmunds
II. In three States Senator Sherman has the
larger number of votes; In Rhode IEland
the 8 votes cast: In South Carolina 10 votes
TO 8 for Mr.. Blaine and in Louisiana votes
to a for Mr.. Blaine. In Georgia, Wyoming
and the District of Columbia the votes between
Mr.. Blaine and Senator Sherman were equally
DIVIDED. In each Of the other States and
Territories Mr.. Blaine had more votes than
any other candidate.
Looking finally at tho doubtful States. upon
which the issue Of the contest may turn. the
votes for the leading candidates are reported
as follows: